The present invention relates to a method for treating a disease, comprising administering a therapeutically effective amount of a pharmaceutical composition comprising a fullerene. The diseases treated comprise bacterial and viral diseases such as those cause by Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria, Dengue 2 virus and viral encephalitis. The fullerene is administered in vivo in an amount of about 0.001 to about 100 mg/kg of body weight of the subject.